Improvement in straw-cutters



1. A. conmsu.

straw-cutters.

No.l52,342. Patentedlune23,i874.

WITNESSES: INVENTOB:

ATTORNEYS.

TJNrrED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

JOHN A. GORNISH, OF MARSHFIELD, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN STRAV V- CUTTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,342, dated June 23,1874; application filed May 28, 1874. 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OIIN A. CORNISH, of Marshfield, in the county ofVebster and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Hay andStraw Cutter; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which-Figure I is a plan view, and Fig. 2 an elevation in longitudinalsection.

The invention relates to hay and straw outters; and consists in certainfeatures of improvement, that will first be fully described, and thenpointed out in the claims.

A represents the cutting-box, provided with afront crosspla-te, a, andalso with two guideplates, a (1?, between which are located thefeed-rolls B B. Each of the latter has an end disk, I), with acircumferential ratchet-flange, b, the two wheels being arranged in thesame vertical plane, so that a plate, 0, fitted or screwed on the end ofa reciprocating yokerod, D, may work one ratchet-wheel with each end 0.The yoke (I of rod surrounds a grooved cam, f, on shaft F. E is aninclined vertical guide, against which works the yoke-rod D, the latterbeing lifted on the rise of the greatest convexity of cam f, and thusallowed, by the outward and upward incline of guide, to move out easilyfrom the ratchet-teeth, while on the downward movement of this camconvexity the guide presses the rod I) and plate 0 inwardly. By thismeans the plate G is freed from the ratchets, and made to catch both theratchets at exactly the right time.

The degree of convexity or eccentricity of cam f may be changed by meansof a series of proper relative position to the bed-knife I, is quiteimportant. The shaft I, provided with its balance-wheel h and pinion h,is journaled in movable bearings J J, to admit of a quick and readyadjustment of the rotary cutter to or from the bed-knife. These bearingsare preferably bifurcated pieces of metal, whose slotted prongs embraceand slide on a tenon,

is, as well as on screws k k in the recessed ends of bars K K. In thelatter are also front and rear guide-grooves, in which the bearings areheld at any point of adjustment by the rear set-screws 7.1 k The rotarycutter H, in operating against the bed-knife, becomes beveled or dubbedoff on its front edge, and requires, therefore, attention and labor toremove and grind. To avoid this I arrange a spring'plate, L, just belowthe bed-knifeI and roughen it with emery, or form a grindingsurfacethereon in any other way, so that as the rotary cutter passes downwardthe wear from the bed-knife is automatically taken up as fast asitoccurs.

I have found by practical experiment that these several improvementscontribute materially to the facility with which the machine may beworked, to the uniformity with which the hay or straw may be cut, and toan increased durability of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is-- 1. Thedescribed combination, with the feedroll-shaft ratchetdisks b b, of theplate 0, fastened between its ends to reciprocating-rod D, to operatesimultaneously both disks.

2. The inclined guide E, combined with plate O,yoke-1'od D, and rotaryeccentric F, substantially as set forth, to guide the plate in and outof the ratchet-teeth.

3. The cutter H, applied to the supportingflange g of a rotary disk, G,and adjustable thereon, as and for the purpose specified.

4. The grinding spring-plate L, arranged in a straw or hay cutter justbelow the bed-knife I, as and for the purpose set forth.

\Vitnesses: J A. OORNISH.

CHAS. A. Pnrrrr, SoLoN O. KEMON.

